Blueberry plant &#39;EB 9-4&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant is described, and which is characterized as to novelty by producing a very large fruit which is mature for harvesting and shipment in the very early season under the ecological conditions prevailing in and near Yanchep Springs, Western Australia.

LATIN NAME

‘Vaccinium Hybrid’

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

‘EB 9-4’

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

The present application claims priority to Australian Plant BreedersRights Application, Ser. No. 2014/244, and which was filed on Oct. 16,2014, and was further accepted on Dec. 23, 2014.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW VARIETY

The present invention relates to a new, novel, and distinct variety ofblueberry plant, ‘Vaccinium Hybrid’ and which has been denominatedvarietally as ‘EB 9-4’.

ORIGIN

The present variety of blueberry plant resulted from an ongoingdevelopment program which I have conducted to identify such plants. Thepurpose of this program is to improve the commercial quality ofblueberry plants, and other species. To this end, I have made controlledhybrid cross-pollinations in order to produce plant populations fromwhich improved progeny are evaluated and thereafter selected.

The blueberry plant ‘EB 9-4’ was originated by me, and selected from apopulation of new plants growing at my farm, and which is located nearYanchep Springs, in Yanchep, Western Australia. The new variety ofblueberry plant was derived from a controlled cross-pollination of theseed parent, blueberry plant ‘BB1’ [unpatented], and a pollen parent,blueberry plant ‘99-4’ [unpatented], during the 2006 growing season. Theseed parent, blueberry parent ‘BB-1’, is characterized by an upright,bush-type growing characteristic, a mid-season flowering date, and whichfurther produces medium to large, and firm fruit. Still further, thefruit produced by the pollen parent, blueberry plant ‘99-4’ ischaracterized by a spreading growth habit, an earlier flowering date,and which further produces fruit having a large size. The resulting seedfrom the seed parent ‘BB-1’ produced about 500 plants. These new plants,and the fruit produced therefrom, were assessed during the 2008 growingseason. A further assessment was conducted in 2009. The subsequentassessment resulted in the selection of blueberry plant, ‘EB 9-4’ forfurther asexual propagation. Further, asexual reproduction of the newvariety, ‘EB 9-4’, and the evaluation of the growth habits of the newplant, and the fruit produced thereby, has led me to conclude that ‘EB9-4’ is a distinct and new variety of the blueberry plant. Additionalvegetative asexual propagation has taken place during the 2010 through2014 growing seasons. All other asexually reproduced plants have provento be true to the original new plant. From my perspective, the present,new variety of blueberry plant is considered to be novel in view of itssemi-upright bush-type growth habit; large to very large, and slightlyflat fruit, and which further has an excellent flavor. The new blueberryplant ‘EB 9-4’ also displays a very early flowering and fruit maturitydates.

In comparison to the seed parent ‘BB 1’, the present, new variety ‘EB9-4’ is distinguishable therefrom by displaying a semi-upright, tointermediate growth habit; a large corolla tube; a sepal form which isconsidered incurving; a firm fruit texture; and a high fruit sweetness.Still further, the new variety of blueberry plant has a very early dateof flowering in relative comparison to the seed parent ‘BB-1’, and whichis considered to flower in the middle of the season. Still further, andin relative comparison to the pollen parent, ‘EB 99-4’, the present, newvariety of blueberry plant is distinguishable therefrom based upon itsdisplayed semi-upright to intermediate growth habit. Further, the fruitproduced by the pollen parent ‘99-4’ is considered to be merely large,as opposed to the large and very large fruit produced by the new varietyof blueberry plant. In relative comparison to another mostclosely-related variety, that being the ‘Ridley 1111’, variety ofblueberry plant,[unpatented], the present, new variety of blueberryplant is distinguishable therefrom by producing fruit which areconsidered large to very large in comparison to the medium sized fruitproduced by the ‘Ridley 1111’ blueberry plant. The aforementionedasexual propagation of the present plant was accomplished by me by meansof cuttings. My observations of the new and novel plant over a number ofyears has confirmed the plant characteristics of the present varietyacross these multiple generations which are mentioned in the paragraphs,above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawing, which is provided, is a color photograph ofthe new blueberry plant ‘EB 9-4’, and which further shows the newvariety ‘EB 9-4’ juxtaposed relative to one of the closest-knownvarieties, that being the blueberry plant ‘EB 8-1’, and which iscurrently a pending U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 13/986,863and which was filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Jun. 12,2013. The photograph as provided shows a portion of a vegetative stemshowing the growth habit of the leaves. One leaf is further displayedshowing the dorsal coloration thereof, and the relative sizes of severalfruit are depicted showing both the dorsal and ventral coloration, aswell as the morphology of same. The photograph additionally shows thesame portions of the closest known plant, that being, the blueberryplant ‘EB 8-1’, for comparative purposes. The color in this photographis as nearly true as is possible in a color representation of this type.Due to chemical development, processing, and printing, the leavers andfruit depicted in this photograph may, or may not, be accurate whencompared to the actual specimen. For this reason, future colorreferences should be made to the color plates and descriptions provided,hereinafter. Common color names are also occasionally employed.

NOT A COMMERCIAL WARRANTY

The following detailed descriptions were prepared to solely comply withthe provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, and do not constitute a commercialwarranty, (either expressed or implied), that the present variety will,in the future, display all the botanical, horticultural or othercharacteristics as set forth, hereinafter. Therefore, this disclosuremay not be relied upon to support any future legal claims including, butnot limited to, breach of warranty of merchantability, or fitness forany particular purpose, or non-infringement which is directed, in whole,or in part, to the present variety.

-   Plant:    -   -   Plant vigor.—Generally considered average for the species.        -   Plant growth habit.—Considered semi-upright to intermediate.            This is in contrast to the closest-known variety ‘EB 8-1’,            and which has a semi-spreading growth habit, and further, in            contrast to the seed parent ‘BB 1’, and which has an            upright, bush-type growth habit. Still further, the pollen            parent, blueberry plant ‘99-4’, has a spreading growth            habit.        -   Color.—One Year Old Shoots — Green.        -   Internode length.—One Year Old Shoots — Considered long for            the species. This is in contrast to the closest-known            variety, blueberry plant ‘EB 8-1’, and which is just            considered average, and sometimes occasionally long.-   Leaves:    -   -   Leaf length.—Considered short, or sometimes average in            length, as compared to the closest-known variety ‘EB 8-1’.            In this regard, the leaf length of the new variety is about            67.47 mm.        -   Leave width.—Considered average for the species, about 29.10            mm.        -   Leaf ratio.—Length/Width — Considered average for the            species.        -   Leaf shape.—Generally ovate.        -   Leaf color.—Dorsal Surface — Green.        -   Leaf color intensity.—Dorsal Surface — Considered dark            green. This is in relative comparison to the medium to dark            colored green as displayed by the leaves of the            closest-known blueberry variety ‘EB 8-1’.        -   Leaf marginal edge.—Entire.-   Flowers:    -   -   Flower bud coloration.—The Anthocyanin coloration is            considered very weak in the present variety.        -   Inflorescence length.—This is considered medium to long for            the species. This is in contrast to the closest-known            variety which is considered merely average.        -   Corolla shape.—Urceolate.        -   Corolla tube size.—Considered large for the species. This is            in contrast to the average sized corolla tube as seen upon            the closest-known variety ‘EB 8-1.        -   Corolla tube coloration.—The anthocyanin coloration of the            corolla tube is either absent or very weak.        -   Corolla tube ridges.—Present.-   Fruit:    -   -   Fruit cluster density.—Considered average.        -   Color intensity.—Unripe fruit — Generally a medium to dark            green color is seen.        -   Fruit size: Generally large to very large. This is in            comparison to the closest-known variety ‘EB 8-1’, and which            produces large fruit; and the seed parent “BB 1’ that            produces medium-large sized fruit. In this regard, the            average fruit diameter is about 24.52 mm. in comparison to            the closest-known variety, ‘EB 8-1’, and which has fruit            diameter of about 20.72 mm. Still further the fruit height            of the new variety of blueberry plant is, on average, about            14.20 mm.        -   Fruit shape when viewed in a longitudinal            perspective.—Considered oblate.        -   Sepal position.—Generally considered semi-erect.        -   Sepal type.—Generally considered incurving. This is in            contrast to the same displayed characteristic of the            closest-known variety, ‘EB 8-1’, and wherein the sepal type            is considered straight.        -   Calyx basin diameter.—Considered small. In this regard, the            Calyx basin diameter is about 9.58 mm; and the Calyx basin            depth is about 3.22 mm.        -   Fruit weight.—On average about 4.67 gm. In contrast, the            closest-known variety, ‘EB 8-1’, produces fruit which, on            average, weighs about 4.05 gm.        -   Intensity of bloom.—Considered quite strong for the species.        -   Fruit skin color.—Dark blue.        -   Fruit firmness.—Generally considered firm. This is in            contrast to the closest-known variety ‘EB 8-1’, and which            displays an average fruit firmness.        -   Fruit sweetness.—Generally — The present variety is            considered a very sweet fruit in contrast to the average            sweetness as displayed by the closest-known variety, ‘EB            8-1’.        -   Fruit acidity.—Generally considered low to medium for the            species.        -   Plant fruiting type.—Fruiting typically is observed on            one-year old, and current season's shoots.        -   Time of vegetative bud burst.—Considered very early in the            season for the species.        -   Beginning of flowering on one year old shoots.—Considered            very early in the season.        -   Beginning of flowering on current year's shoots.—Considered            very early in the season for the species. This is in            contrast to the seed parent, blueberry plant ‘BB 1’, and            which displays a mid-season flowering date.        -   Beginning of fruit ripening on one year old            shoots.—Considered very early in the season for this            species.        -   Beginning of fruit ripening on current year's            shoots.—Considered very early in the season for this            species.        -   Resistance to insects and disease.—No particular            susceptibilities were noted. The present variety has not            been tested to expose or detect any susceptibilities or            resistances to any known plant and/or fruit diseases.            Although the new variety of blueberry plant possesses the            described characteristics when grown under the ecological            conditions prevailing near Yanchep Springs, Western            Australia, it should be understood that variations of the            usual magnitude and characteristics incident to changes in            growing conditions, fertilization, pruning, pest control,            frost, climatic variables, and horticultural management are            to be expected.

Having thus described and illustrated my new variety of blueberry plant,what I claim is new, and desire to secure by Plant Letters Patent is: 1.A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant as substantially shown anddescribed, and which is denominated varietally as ‘EB 9-4’, and whichfurther produces a large to very large fruit which is mature forharvesting and shipment in the very early season under the ecologicalconditions prevailing near Yanchep Springs, Western Australia.